Top 5 Lakes around Saranac Lake

The Saranac Chain, comprising Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, offers an extensive interconnected waterway ideal for exploration. You can enjoy a 17-mile paddle with only one portage across all three. These lakes are known for their natural beauty, diverse wildlife, and numerous islands, providing opportunities for paddling, boating, fishing, and camping.

For a quieter paddling experience, consider Lake Colby, which has motor restrictions allowing only boats with motors 10 mph or less, as well as canoes and kayaks. Follensby Clear Pond is another excellent choice, particularly noted as a family-favorite paddling destination with opportunities for short paddles or longer trips connecting to other ponds.

Yes, Middle Saranac Lake features beautiful white sand beaches, making it excellent for swimming. Lake Colby also offers a public beach with a sandy shoreline, lifeguards during open hours, a picnic area, and restrooms.

Upper Saranac Lake provides primitive, boat-accessible campsites available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Saranac Lake Islands Public Campground offers 87 campsites on islands in both Middle and Lower Saranac Lakes, providing a unique overnight experience.

The lakes offer diverse fishing opportunities. Upper Saranac Lake is known for lake trout, brown trout, and northern pike. Middle Saranac Lake has excellent smallmouth bass fishing around Shaw Island. Lower Saranac Lake is good for northern pike, walleye, rainbow trout, and bass. Lake Flower is popular for northern pike, especially in spring, and Lake Colby is stocked annually with rainbow trout, brown trout, and some landlocked salmon.

Lower Saranac Lake, known as the 'Lake of the Clustered Stars' by Native Americans, has historical significance with properties like the Knollwood Club, where Albert Einstein was a frequent summer visitor. Lake Flower, originally the Mill Pond, was created by damming the Saranac River in 1827 and later named after New York Governor Roswell P. Flower.

The lakes are a haven for birdwatching. Common loons, eagles, and osprey are often spotted on Upper Saranac Lake. Lower Saranac Lake supports diverse wildlife, including common loons, bald eagles, and great blue herons.

Many lakes offer family-friendly activities. Lake Colby has a public beach with amenities like lifeguards and picnic areas. Follensby Clear Pond is a family-favorite for paddling. The numerous islands on Lower Saranac Lake are perfect for picnics and exploration.

Beyond water activities, the Saranac Lake area offers extensive outdoor recreation. You can find numerous hiking trails, such as the 'Scarface Mountain Trail' or the 'Moody Pond loop'. For road cycling, routes like 'Lower Saranac Lake – Lake Colby loop' are popular. Explore more options in the Road Cycling Routes around Saranac Lake or Hiking around Saranac Lake guides.

The lakes around Saranac Lake are especially beautiful in the fall, with the colorful foliage of the trees. The roads running near lakes like Lower Saranac Lake offer spectacular views of the changing leaves and their reflections on the water.

In winter, the frozen lakes transform into recreational areas. Lake Flower is notably the source of ice for Saranac Lake's iconic Ice Palace during the Winter Carnival. Locals also enjoy snowmobiling across frozen lakes like Lake Colby.